Modular unit for the spinning of synthetic fibers

ABSTRACT

A unit for spinning synthetic fibers comprises a metal housing including a central tube for the passage of the melt polymer and communicating with a first heating fluid surrounding said tube. Two systems of tubes for the distribution of the polymer are separately connected to the central tube and two sets of four pumps, each set for each of two spinning positions. A second heating fluid flows in a circuit which is independent from that of said first heating fluid. The unit is easily demountable for maintenance and cleaning operations and is adapted to be simply assembled with other identical units for high-production plants.

[ Oct. 23, 1973 United States Patent [1 1 Landoni 54] MODULAR UNIT FOR THE SPINNING or 3,655,314 4/1972 Lenk a 425/3822 x SYNTHETIC FIBERS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: Giannino Landoni, Via Colombo 32, 1,550,134 11/1968 France............................. 264/176 F Cassano Magnago, Italy June 19, 1972 Appl. No.: 263,775

Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Att0meyAlvin Browdy et al.

[22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A unit for spinning synthetic fibers comprises a metal [30] Foreign Application Priority Data June l9, 1971 26078 A/7l housing including a central tube for the Passage of the melt polymer and communicating with a first heating fluid surrounding said tube. Two systems of tubes for the distribution of the polymer are separately connected to the central tube and two sets of four pumps, each set for each of two spinning positions. A second heating fluid flows in a circuit which is independent from that of said first heating fluid. The unit is easily /d a nu 4 0 2 7 "2 B m8 5 MB 2 5 4 2 mh c r ""8 e "us L f. C .m mm UIF ll] Zloo 555 [ll References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS demountable for maintenance and cleaning operations and is adapted to be simply assembled with other identical units for high-production plants.

425/ I92 425/379 x 425/378 X 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 2,841,821 Phipps 3,561,053 2/1971 Pearson 3,619,859 ll/l9'7l Nelson............................

SHEET 1 OF 3 1. 5 WW [mix WM llll :W E M U m m WWW mm h T i In in m TI PATENTEU UB1 2 3 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 MODULAR UNIT FOR THE SPINNING OF SYNTHETIC FIBERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a cell unit to be applied to the devices for spinning synthetic fibers, and, specifically, a unit described as modulus or componential, in that two or more of these cells replace the traditional spinning equipment.

It is known that, in the spinning of synthetic fibers, as for example fibers of polyamide, polyester, polyolefln, etc., the function of the so-called spinning equipment is to receive the polymer in the fused state coming from the extruder at a specific temperature, distribute it to the pumps and from these directly to the spinnerets or nozzles.

It is well-known that during such a run the fused polymer must be maintained at a well-defined and constant temperature. However, the traditional spinning equipment, besides being very bulky, offers substantial inconveniences, as for example:

a. difficulty or absolute impossiblity to dismantle the equipment for cleaning the polymer dispensers, since the entire dispensing system is completely welded;

b. a single heating system both for the polymer pipes and dispensers and the spinneret-support housings; this makes it necessary to operate the entire spinning plant V at a temperature which, in order to arrive at the spinnerets at an optimum temperature for spinning, becomes too high in the rest of the spinning unit with the result that a thread of inferior textile quality is obtained, especially in the spinning of threads having a small denier (-15-20 den);

c. the spinneret-support housings have an opening located in such a manner that they are fed from bottom toward the top passing between the air heaters which is very inconvenient;

d. the thermal flow that pervades the spinneretsupport housings is not equal for all the housings, since those on the inside happen to be more isolated by an increasing number of layers which remain between two adjacent housings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION being dismantled, provides for two independent heating systems, provides for the mounting of the spinneretsupport housings from above, and guarantees a constant condition of the fused polymer throughout its journey. Such a cell offers the further advantage of being modular, that is, of having a consistent type of circuitry due to which it is possible to assemble a series of two or more, thus replacing the conventional spinning plant of unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages, objects. and characteristics of the modulus cell covered by the invention will become evident to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of one of its possible methods of construction referring to the attached drawings in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it is seen that the modular cell covered by the present invention consists essentially of a metal housing connected, through an inlet pipe 2 and an outlet pipe 3, to a piping circulation of primary heating fluid; of a central pipe, surrounded by the primary heating fluid, for the passage of the fused polymer coming from the extruder; of two systems 6 and 6' of pipes for dispensing the polymer joined each the present invention, which is completely capable of to said central pipe 5 and to a series of four pumps 7; of a housing 8 for the dispensing of the polymer joined to said eight pumps and provided with an internal passage 9 for the circulation of a secondary heating fluid which communicates with a series of eight spinneret support blocks housings 10.

As can be seen, the cell contains two spinning positions and each spinning position receives four double pumps corresponding to the respective eight spinnerets. Alternatively, each spinning position can receive four quadruple pumps with the respective eight double spinnerets. In the first instance we have the situation which in textile jargon is known as 8 strand, while in the second instance we have what is called I6 strand.

The modular cell covered by the invention makes it possible to equip spinning units which, beginning with a minimum of one cell comprising two spinning positions, can be successively increased at will adding other cells to the first, in such a manner as to give equipment of considerable dimensions perfectly functional and 0 high productivity.

In the open space inside casing I circulates a primary heating fluid which, entering through inlet 2 and leaving through outlet 3, follows a path shown schematically in the figure by the arrow A. The heating fluid, which leaves via outlet 3, passes through a pipe arranged concentrically with pipe 5 through which passes the fused polymer coming from the extruder. In such a manner the fused polymer is maintained at a temperature which corresponds essentially to that prevailing within the cell.

Pipe 5 is connected through flanges 11 and 11' to the polymer dispensing systems 6 and 6'. Referring to FIG. 4, it'can be seen that each such dispensing system comprises essentially a section of horizontal pipe 12 connected to flange l1 and having the other end curved toward the bottom and joined to the center of a pipe 13. Pipe 13 has both ends curved toward the bottom and joined to curved pipes 14 and 15 which, in turn, are provided at each end which flanges 16, l6, l6 and 16". The dispensing system 6 has the same structure as that shown for 6.

Thanks to the type of connection through flange 11 and the series of flanges l6, dispensing system 6 can easily be dismantled and taken out up the cell for cleaning. Thus is eliminated one of the most troublesome inconveniences inherent in the standard devices which have the dispensing pipes completely welded. In the cell covered by the present invention, dispensing systems 6 and 6' are preferably constructed of stainless steel.

Referring to FIG. 3, it is seen that flanges 16, 16', etc. are connected to the dispensing housing 8 which contains passages through which the polymer arrives to each of the corresponding pumps 7. From the pumps the polymer is then forced through distribution plate 17 to flow into housing slot 18 in juxtaposition with the appropriate opening of spinneret-support block 10. Spinneret-support block 10, which in FIG. 3 is schematically shown in extracted position, when placed in housing slot 18 is secured merely by tightening screw 19. It is to be noted that each of the seatings, into which are inserted spinneret-supportblocks 10, is flanked with canal-like passage 9 within which the secondary heating fluid circulates. With such an arrangement all spinnerets are maintained at the same temperature, so that can be avoided the inconveniences of the standard spinning equipment cited in point d) of the present description. Moreover, thanks to the use of the secondary heating fluid which circulates in a circuit that is completely separate from that of the primary heating fluid which surrounds pipe and the dispensing systems 6 and 6', the temperature of the two fluids can be different. In such a manner, whereas the temperature of the fluid which surrounds the spinnerets can be sufficiently high to the optimum for the spinning, the temperature of the primary heating fluid can be lower with consequent elimination of the risks of degrading the fused polymer and having the subsequent deterioration of the textile characteristics of the fibers produced.

The heatinf fluid which circulates in the first circuit, which serves for heating dispensing systems 6 and 6, pumps 7 and distribution housing 8, consist of 21 diathermic oil in vapor form. The fluid which circulates in the second heating circuit, which serves to heat the spinneret-support block 10, consists of a diathermic oil in liquid form. Each of the two heating circuits is served by an individual central heating line.

From FIG. 3 it is evident moreover how the spinneret-support block 10, upon loosening bolt 19, can easily be withdrawn toward the top and therefore in extremely convenient position. This constitutes a substantial advantage from an operational stand point in view of the frequency with which the spinneret-support blocks must be cleaned and/or replaced during the operation of such spinning equipment.

Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that spinneretsupport block contains an opening 20 arranged to come together with the outlet hole of the fused polymer which flows into slot 18 after having passed through the corresponding canal-like passage inside housing 8. spinneret-support block 10 is composed essentially of four pieces of special form, which are adductor cap 21, filter-support glass 22 and casing 23 in which is located nozzle 24. These pieces are held together by four setscrews 26. A special blind hole serves for locking the block 10 in place through means of screw 19.

The cleaning of the cell and of its components can easily be achieved in rapid and sure manner. Opening the small doors that are positioned on the side of the cell, it is possible to reach into the inside of casing 1 to loosen flanges l1 and 11 as well as flange series 16 in order to free and withdraw dispensing systems 16 and 16'. The canals within distribution block 8, which are all rectilinear and of easy accessibility, may be cleaned after having removed numbering pumps 7 and distribution plates 17.

Finally, referring to FIG. 6, it is shown how two or more cells can be assembled to be serviced by a single extruder. To achieve such an arrangement, pipe '27 within which the fused polymer, coming from the extruder, flows is connected by means of a union 28 to the ends of two pipes 29 and 30 having respectively the opposite ends curved and connected to other similar 28 and 28" (not shown in the figure). Parts 29 and 30, and the other similar parts, are composed of two concentric pipes of different diameter, in such a manner as to form a hollow space in which the heating fluid flows. Connecting parts 28, 28', etc. can be of any suitable type.

In FIG. 6, M indicates the standard repeatable a distance that is specifically termed the model for the modulus cell covered by the present invention.

The embodiments above described and illustrated in the attached drawings have been given only as examples and not as imitations of the present invention. Additions and/or modifications can be made by those skilled in the art remaining within the scope of the invention itself.

What I claim is:

1. A modular cell unit for the spinning of synthetic fibers comprising a pipe for the passage of the fused polymer coming from an extruder and which leads into the interior of the cell; a metal casing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening for a primary heating fluid pipe disposed therein; two systems of dispensing pipes each of which is connected to said polymer feed pipe and terminates with four outlet orifices; a distribution housing having internally eight canal-like passages communicating on the one hand with said eight outlet orifices and on the other hand with an equal quantity of numbering pumps; a distribution plate which provides a connection between each pump and a pair of canal-like passages situated within said distributor housing and which pour into 16 seatings supporting as many spinneret-support blocks, said seatings being flanked by a further canal-like passage suitable for the circulation of a secondary heating fluid.

2. A modular cell unit according to claim 1, in which there is inserted in each of the 16 seatings a spinneretsupport block comprising an internal passage for the fused polymer, said block being comprised of an adductor cap, a filter-carrying glass and a spinneret housmg.

3. A modular cell unit, according to claim 1, in which each spinneret-support block is fixed within its seating through means of a lock-screw.

4. A modular cell unit according to claim 1, in which the circuit of the primary heating fluid and the circuit of the secondary heating unit are connected to two separate thermal central lines.

5. A modular cell unit according to claim 1, which is connected with four quadruple pumps and which has eight double spinnerets. 

1. A modular cell unit for the spinning of synthetic fibers comprising a pipe for the passage of the fused polymer coming from an extruder and which leads into the interior of the cell; a metal casing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening for a primary heating fluid pipe disposed therein; two systems of dispensing pipes each of which is connected to said polymer feed pipe and terminates with four outlet orifices; a distribution housing having internally eight canal-like passages communicating on the one hand with said eight outlet orifices and on the other hand with an equal quantity of numbering pumps; a distribution plate which provides a connection between each pump and a pair of canal-like passages situated within said distributor housing and which pour into 16 seatings supporting as many spinneret-support blocks, said seatings being flanked by a further canal-like passage suitable for the circulation of a secondary heating fluid.
 2. A modular cell unit according to claim 1, in which there is inserted in each of the 16 seatings a spinneret-support block comprising an internal passage for the fused polymer, said block being comprised of an adductor cap, a filter-carrying glass and a spinneret housing.
 3. A modular cell unit, according to claim 1, in which each spinneret-support block is fixed within its seating through means of a lock-screw.
 4. A modular cell unit according to claim 1, in which the circuit of the primary heating fluid and the circuit of the secondary heating unit are connected to two separate thermal central lines.
 5. A modular cell unit according to claim 1, which is connected with four quadruple pumps and which has eight double spinnerets. 